Juvie Beardie Brumating

[KamataKun]

My 7 month old bearded dragon is trying to brumate, but I was told he was too young and to try and stop him. I added an extra hour of light to his heat and UVB, and took away his cool-side hide as advised. But he's apparently content to brumate under his hammock.

Is there anything else I can do to prevent him from brumating? I was told not to handle him as it'll only make him irritated and aggressive. I also worry about his hydration; this is my first time experiencing brumation, so if he does insist on brumating, should I just let him? How do I keep him hydrated? I keep a water bowl in his tank but he never uses it. He usually gets water through a syringe or by my spraying his food.

 

[CooperDragon]

If they're set on sleeping, they will. I suggest taking him out maybe once or twice a week to weigh him and offer water by dripping it on his nose using a dropper or plastic syringe (or even your fingertip). Keep a log of his weight. If that is remaining pretty stable, then he has slowed his metabolism and is likely in a brumation phase. If you notice a consistent downward trend in his weight, it may indicate an underlying health issue. That's why it's worthwhile to keep a log of his weight, especially while in brumation.